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A 15-Month-Old Boy With Respiratory Distress and Parapharyngeal Abscess: A Case Report Pubmed



Gharib B1 ; Mohammadpour M1 ; Sharifzadeh M1 ; Mirashrafi F2 ; Yaghmaie B1 ; Pak N2 ; Mehdizadeh M2 ; Eshaghi H2 ; Gorji M2 ; Memarian S2
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Acta Medica Iranica Published:2016


Abstract

Parapharyngeal abscess is a life-threatening disease. Upper respiratory tract infection is the main cause in children. We present a 15-month-old boy admitted to the emergency ward with the chief complaint of difficulty in breathing caused by parapharyngealabscess. His condition deteriorated gradually, and he transferred to the operation theater quickly for abscess drainage and because of the difficulty in orotracheal intubation; a tracheostomy was performed. His respiratory condition deteriorated 2 days after PICU admission, and the medical team noticed an unexplainable respiratory distress. A chest x ray obtained and showed a right side pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema around the neck area. The case presented here, had not been diagnosed at the first examination; however, there were enough clinical clues (such as respiratory distress, drooling, torticollis, bulging of the neck, previous viral respiratory infection, possible pharyngeal trauma). The story of this case reminds us the importance of the precise physical exam and history taking which could be life-saving. © 2016 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.